Bishop Timothy Doherty of the Diocese of Lafayette visited with members of St. Louis de Monfort Catholic Church to discuss an anonymous letter regarding the pastor.

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When Bishop Timothy Doherty stood before 300-plus parishioners Sunday morning to defend their pastor from 40-year-old sexual abuse allegations, he was also sending a message that the old ways of covering up such scandals are over.

During an often tense, hour-long meeting at St. Louis de Montfort Catholic Church, the leader of the Lafayette Diocese said this was "an old accusation" against an innocent pastor who is suffering from having to reopen old wounds.

Rather than handling the matter quietly, Doherty applauded the parish for asking him to come to Fishers, saying it is important to ...